Legislature in Mississippi Fails to Implement Ban on Sweepstakes Casinos, as Senate Declines to Approve Revised Bill
Mississippi's Gambling Game of Thrones
The online casino sweepstakes in Mississippi refuses to budge, defying the Mississippi House of Representatives' attempt to deny its existence. The House neglected to approve a bill sent from the Senate in February, which aimed to outlaw this form of online gambling. Instead, they opted to push for mobile sports betting with SB 2510.
The Senate had previously passed SB 2510 with an effortless 51-0 vote, intending to explicitly ban online sweepstakes casinos and enforce tougher penalties for illegal gambling activities. However, House Gaming Committee Chairman Rep. Casey Eure adjusted the bill, introducing the legalization of mobile sports betting.
This amendment, however, led the bill back to the Senate, where it was rejected. Things weren't entirely lost, as a conference committee was established to find a middle ground. The House persisted in wanting mobile sports betting for revenue generation, given the state's existing retail casinos and sportsbooks. The Senate, on the other hand, was reluctant, concerned that mobile sports betting may harm retail casinos.
Regrettably, the conference committee couldn't reconcile their differing viewpoints and reach a compromise before the March 31st conference report filing deadline. As a result, sweepstakes casinos continue their reign in the Magnolia State.
The state gaming regulator may yet strip them of their power, as has happened in other states. Until that happens, Mississippi's online sweepstakes casinos remain a lucrative gamble for gamblers in the state.
This failed conference committee represents another unsuccessful attempt to broaden online sports betting in Mississippi, taking us back to the 2018 in-person sports betting legalization framework.
[1] Source explaining the initial Senate-passed bill's aim to ban online sweepstakes casinos and strengthen penalties for illegal gambling activities.
[2] Source detailing the failure of the conference committee to reconcile the differing viewpoints between the House and the Senate.
[3] Source elucidating the House amendments to legalize mobile sports betting under SB 2510.
[4] Source discussing the Senate rejection of the amended SB 2510.
[5] Source outlining the impact of the bill's failure on the Mississippi online gambling industry.
[1] In the Mississippi Senate's initial passing of SB 2510, the bill aimed to ban online sweepstakes casinos and enforce tougher penalties for illegal gambling activities, as reported by the Mississippi Senate website.
[2] According to the Jackson Clarion-Ledger, the conference committee could not reconcile their differing viewpoints and reach a compromise before the March 31st conference report filing deadline, ultimately leading to the failure of the bill.
[3] The House Gambling Committee Chairman, Rep. Casey Eure, adjusted SB 2510, introducing the legalization of mobile sports betting, as mentioned in the article by the Associated Press.
[4] Following the House amendments, the Senate rejected the amended SB 2510, as stated in the Clarion Ledger article.
[5] As a result of the bill's failure, Mississippi's online sweepstakes casinos continue to flourish, posing a lucrative gamble for gamblers in the state, according to the article by the Clarion Ledger.
